Cutting and coating machine



Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,594

7 H. H. WEAVER ET AL CUTTING AND COATING-MACHINE Filed April 7, 1925 2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 ji w i {M W {M W" "I! W! 1 l M W I!" W W WWI; AIW'IM II W il W fmmsah 6. 5 reaper/i. Weave- 2 ily my.

Nova 1 I H. H. WEAVER ET AL CUTTING AND COATING MACHINE Filed Pril '7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 15W ME J] E:1y 'l" filly Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT H. WEAVER, OF CHICAGO, AND EMERSON A. IBOLEN, F MORRIS, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNORS TO NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION, OF MORRIS, ILLINOIS, A OORPORA- TION OF ILLINOIS.

Application filed April 2',

The present invention has to do with a machine for the production of chocolate coated ice cream bars, ordinarily designated in the trade as Eskimo pies.

It has for its principal object the correla tion of the several steps required in the production of such confections from brick ice cream, in a single machine. Included in the objects of the invention are the improvement of ice cream cutting devices, and of dipping mechanisms, and the provision of means for securing regulated intermittent reciprocal and rotative movements incidental to successfully coating such confections.

The objects hereinbefore recited, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, are attained by the novel construction. combination, and arrangement of the parts of our device, which is fully illustrated in the accompanying two sheets of drawing made a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a complete cutting and dipping machine;

Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the center of the machine along the line 33 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the rack lifting cam; Fig. 5 isa horizontal detail along the line 5 5 of Fig. 3 showing the means employed for obtaining intermittent rotative movement of said rack;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the cam controlling); the knife actuation, and is taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section along the line 7-7 of Fig. 3;

Fi g. 8 is an elevationof the cutting device;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line 99 of 8;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section through one of the dipping hooks; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are front and side fragmentary elevations of the connecting member intermediate the hook members and rack.

Like reference characters are used to dese ignate similar parts in the drawings and in the description which follows.

For convenience in description, each function of the machine will be taken separately.

CUTTING- .AND COATING MACHINE.

1923. Serial No. 630,456.

The device, although comprising several separated parts, works as a unit for production, and is contained upon a single frame or platform.

The ordinal 10 is used to designate the flat top of a. table having legs 11, aprons 12, and cross-pieces or braces 13. Upon a suitable member 14 secured intermediate two of crosspieces 13, a prime mover, preferably an electric motor 15, is installed. Suspended to the under side of the table and longitudinally disposed with respect thereto is a inain shaft 16 and an auxiliary shaft 17 parallel to said main shaft. Intermediate said shafts are bevel gears 18.

The several functions of the machine are controlled and timed by the main shaft 16 and auxiliary shaft 17 which are journaled to a bed 19 secured to the under side of table top 10. Brackets 20 and 21 for supporting the main shaft 16, and a bracket 22 for the auxiliary shaft, depend from bed 19 while the outer bearing 22 for the auxiliary shaft 17 is secured in one of aprons 12.

For driving the main shaft 16 a worm 23 is journaled in a bracket 2% depending from bracket 20. A pulley 25 secured to said worm 2-3 is rotated by a belt driven by motor 15. IVorm 23 meshes with a worm-wheel 26 fixedly secured adjacent one end of said main shaft 16. liotation of shaft 16 drives auxiliary shaft 17 through gears 18, the rotation of the two shafts being in opposite directions. if i In the production of Eskimo pies it is curtomary and usualto employ what is known as a half-depth brick mold. The ice cream is frozen in a shallow mold, of predetermined width and of half the usual depth of a brick mold, and the cores for the Eskimo pies are cut from ice cream so molded.

Such slabs or blocks of ice cream are placed upon an endless belt 27 rotating about a small roller 28 journaled adjacent to the ice cream cutting apparatus to be later described, and a larger and driven pulley 29 carried in a housing sccured to table top 10. The latter pulley is provided with a toothed wheel 30 meshing with a short worm 31 secured to auxiliary shaft 17 to enable the production of intermittent rotative movement of said pulley 29, whereby to advance the belt 27 predetermined short distances. Intermediate the layers of the belt 27 is a slab-like support 32 upon which the upper layer of the belt travels, any tendency of belt 27 to sag under the weight of the ice cream being thus prevented. With each advance of belt 27, the slab or block of ice cream carried thereby is advanced toward and beneath the cutting mechanism now to be described.

Bed 19 is provided with two oppositely disposed depending vertical guide members 33. Each guide member 33 has a central groove or track 3%, best shown in Figs. 3 and 7. Operating reciprocally in tracks 34. are knife supports 35 intermediate which a knife 36 is disposed. Adjacent their lower ends, knife supports 35 are spaced apart by a cross-piece 37 secured thereto, and at their upper extremities a second cross-piece 38 employed. Vertical reciprocal motion of the knife frame 35 is obtained by the engagement-'ofa horizontally disposed rod 39 secured 'to lower cross-piece 3'7, and eoact-ing with the track of heart-shaped cam 40 secured to and rotating with main shaft 16. A cutting block l1, best shown in 3, 6 and 9 is disposed immediately adjacent pulley 28. This block tl is toothed as indicated in Fig. 9, in order to present to the under surface of each core of ice cream as it is out off, a series of narrow supporting edges 42 rather than a solid surface. Such supports or teeth 42 prevent sticking of ice cream to block 41, and avoid the accumulation of a large volume of waste beneath the cutting device.

A clamping member or grip piece 43 1s provided foroperation with and in connection with the knife 36. Such grip piece 43 has a bowed gripping face secured to a rod passing through upper cross bar 38. The rod 4% is provided with a-spring 4:5 coiled thereabout in order to admit of variances of movement between theknife 36 and grip piece 43. F or example, grip piece as re mains stationary after engaging upon a block of ice CIGZLH) (designated 4 -6) while the knife 36 passes therethrough. In this manner the block of ice cream i6 is secured against backward displacement upon the then stationarybelt 27, insuringthat when belt 27 again moves such ice cream block Will be occupying the same position it occupied whcn blade 36 was moving downwardly therethrough during its cutting operation.

A guide to determine the thickness of the slice of ice cream cut from block 46 is provided, such guide being attached to the knife supports 35; and comprising a plurality of brackets 47 extending forwardly of the knife'blade 36. A cross piece 48 is provided between said brackets,'such cross piece l8 serving to arrest the advance of the block of ice cream 46 through the knife supports 35 when belt 2? is advancing. By adjusting the brackets 45? or by changing the adjust ment of cross piece tt with respect to brackets 4.7, the portion of ice cream projected through the knife supports 35 at each intern'iittent advance of belt 2? is measured. liven though the advance of bolt 27 is in excess of that necessary to advance the block of ice cream l6 against the cross piece :18. the movement of block of ice cream 46 will be arrested and the belt 27 will slip thereunder. By the adjustment of either brackets l or the cross-piece 48, the size of the Eskimo pie may be determined in :ulvaucc without any additional adjustment of the mechanism of the machine.

it will be well to state in spccilic detail how the slabs or bricks of ice crcan'i are converted into blocks or bars for coating. ilready it has been indicated that blocks of ice cream are phu-cd upon bolt 27, and advance therewith predcterminod distances intermittently. Such intermittent advances are controlled ud timed by the gearing 30 :tIltl ach of such advances occurs While the knife 36 in its uppermost lJOSllTlO'E}. The block of ice cream d6 is propelled under the knife 36 and bet vceu knife supi oats 35 "l its .7 by such intermittent movements uni Vance forward movements are wit; each ad arrested by cross-piece 48. its each iu'lci' inittentmovement of belt 27 c ies, the rotation of main shaft 16 to which ca :11 .26 is secured auscs the knife sir iports :35 to be drawn downwardly with the disphmemcnt of rod member 39 incidrnt to gremcat with the track in the r i The knife 36 is thus forced through block of cream d6, slicing off a prcdcl rn'iincd porti thereof, the member if the same time trarellin. downwardly H C: the table top 10 provided the descent of knife 36, presses upon the rcmainii of ice cream 46 and exert J'Hg controlled pressure thereon to that the remaining portion of block clo' will not be 1 e II J limit, n.

forced away from the route of travel of knife 36, thus providi vertical edges for 'WCli uniformly releases its preslmnicdiatcly belt 27 adlit llfi

duced, a horizontally disposed circular rack is provided. This is bestshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The rack comprises a spoked and braced Wheel 49 fixed to a shaft: 50 journaled for rotative and rec'procal movement upon a hub projecting from bed 19, said hub pre venting lateral tipping or movement of said axle. A collar 51 is secured about shaft 50 and within said hub so that retative movementtransmitted to said collar will cause shaft 50 to rotate, thus revolving wheel 1?), but reciprocal movement of shaft 50 through said collar 51 is readily had without longitudinal displacement of said collar.

To obtain the reciprocal. vertical move ment of shaft 50 referred to, a cam 52 or irregular contour, best shown in Fig. 1, is secured to shaft l6. A roller bearing 53 may be secured to the lower end of shaft 50 and may be provided with a pivoted bearing and guide means which is to be held in alinement with the periphery of cam 52.

lhe caring required to advance said rack a fractional turn (one siz tteenth) each time it is in elevated position comprises a toothed wheel. 54, having as many teeth (sixteen) as there are dipping hooks upon said rack a9. Journaledin vertical relation to bed 19 1s a second shaft 55 having a single toothed pinion 56 ai'lixed thereto, such pinion 56 advancing toothed wheel 5 1 one notch with each of its complete revolutions. Bevel gearing 57 is provided. between main shaft 16 and vertical pinion shaft 55.

hers leing loosely secured at the top of vertical shaft 50 and including radial frame members 60 and two metallic tracks (51 and 652, the first being adapted to tilt the hooks at an angle, facilitating the dripping of coating from the coated bars of ice cream, while the second engages the topmost portion of rod 58 inwardly in order to limit movement of the rod 58 as an incident to the removal of the coated bar from hook or tongs 59. Each of the tracks 61 and 62 comprises substantially a quarter or more of the circumference of rack- 19. Rotative frame 50 and of the avoided by providing a projecting arm 63 ai iixed to said frame. Such arm projects outwardly beyond the rack to into a U-shaped vertical track 64 secured to table top 10. As frame 60 and tracks 61 and 62 displacement of the tracks 61 and 62 is sixteenth turn.

rise and fall with rack 41-9, arm 63 slides up and down in track 6 1.

To imbed the hooks 59 within the cutoff blocks or slices of ice cream, a kicker bar (55 pivotally connected to bed 19 if; em ployed. The upper section thereof coinprises a plate 56 of such width that it will impinge the back of hooks 59, while the lower section comprises a freely rotating roller bearing in engagement with the back surface of cam so, which back surface is also camined at 67. When rack 49 is in its lowermost position, cam 67 causes a sharp movement of the upper portion of kicker bar against hooks whereby said hooks will be imbedded in the slice of ice cream resting upon cutter block 41.

in addition to the movement of kicker bar 65 being timed by cam (37 to be coincident with the lowermost position of rack 49, said rack is adjusted by reference to collar 51 whereby to present at the close of each intermittent rotative movement a new hook for picking up slices of ice cream. After a slice of ice cream has been imbedded upon hooks 59 and upon the second vertical downward movement of rack l9 thereafter, such ice cream is immersed in a tank 68 which is filled with a coating ma terial, and which may be heated and thermostatically equipped, if it is necessary to keep the coating material contents thereof in liquid condition. Immediately upon the next succeeding lifting movement of rack 19, red 59 engages upon track 61 and the coated bar is then held at an angle whereby the uncongealed coating material is caused to run to one corner thereof and drip oii'. The bar is kept in this tilted position for more than one quarter of a turn of rack 49, after which the rod 58 is released to take its normal position. Said rod 58 next engages track 62 which holds the red5tl vertically and prevents inward movement of hooks 59 whereby to facilitate the manual removal of the coated ice cream bar, upon which the coating material has by such time thoroughly congealed.

Although it is believed that the operation of rack 49 is perfectly clear, it may be said by way of further explanation that the rack 19, when in its lowermost position, presents one of hooks 59 adjacent to block 41 upon which is deposited an uncoated slice of ice cream. Kicker bar 65 is actuated by cam 67 driven by main shaft 16to force the hooks 59 into such ice cream block, imbedding the same securely thereon. The rack 19 immediately lifts and is advanced one It drops to its lowermost position when a second slice of ice cream is picked up in the same manner. The rack is again raised, turns one-sixteenth of a retation, and coincident with the picking up of the third slice of ice cream, the slice first ion referred to is immersed in coating material contained in tank (38. The rack is again reised and rotated one-sixteenth turn. The rod carrying the first coated bar engages track 61 whereby the bar is tilted to facilitate draining.

The reciprocal movement of rack 49 is so timed that the immersion of the slice oi ice cream in tank 68 occupies but a, fraction oi a second thus avoiding any tendency of theiee cream to liquity in the coating material. 7

That theremay be obtained in the position occupied by the hook members when in downmost extension,- exact registration With the slices of ice cream as cut, adj ustability is provided as disclosed in Figs. 11 and and by theguide mechanism for reel: 49 illustrated in l and The guide mechanism for rack 4-9 in cludes a circular dislr69 ailixed "to shaft 50. A plurality of lo-shaped notches or indentations'll) are provided upon'the periphery o1 disk 69. As many notches or indentations 70 as there are hoch mem are provided and as rack 4.9 is lowe. 9d, the interior Wall of said notches'engages with a. pin '71 secured to table top 10. The diaur eter oi? pin 71 is such, except at its conicu'l point, that it occupies substantially the entire Width of a notch or indentation 70, thus securing rack against rotary displacement While the latter is in dovwnn" st position. It hardly necessary to addt sit notches in disk 69 .are so disposed with relation to pin 71 that hooks 59 carried by rack register With'icecream block to as the rack 4:9 is lowered to its downmost extension. i

Referenceshould noW be had to Figs. 11 and 12. Rods 58 are attached to rack d9 by a connecting member or carrier 72, the body T2; of which is secured to rack 19 by a pin udmi' ing of s vinging movement tangential to the periphery of raclz lt). A lug T5 prcj c ting from the side or endot body 73 is threaced to upon which a lock nut is disposed. By rotation of screw 76, the end of which cuti upon ruck ll), rod 58 may be tilted either to the right or left in order that its hook end maybe made to register accurately \vith block 46 when rack 49 is in 'downmostposition. Lock nut'i? is employed to secure the adjustment o1" adjusting screw 76 determined upon.

. To admit of a swinging radial movement of rod 58 said rod is pivotally mounted upon carrier 72 through the agency of a pin 78 (a cotter pin disclosed in the drawing), passing through cars 79 projecting outwardly and parallel from body 73, such pin 78 passing transversely through thebody of rod 58.

Carrier 72. is yielding ly held in adjusted receive an adjusting screw '76 ncensed position by a coil spring 80 secured at one end to rack 49 and at the other end to rod 58. as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 11.

We claim:

1. In it costing machine, means for feed ing confection centers. a rotatable rack lmving aplurality of confection holding hooks. means "for lowering and raising said Inc c. on actuating member for iinbedding said hooks in the confection centers, and a coating n1aterial tank adapted to receive said centers one at a time as said rack is lowered.

2' A machine for coating ice cream com prising means for slicing bars oi" ice cream from bricks thereof, a rotatable rack having :1 plurality of spaced hook members. means for raising and lowering said ruck, a kicker bur impinging said hoot: members for impaling said barsoit ice cruim thereupon, a tank tor coating material adapted to receive such impanelled bars of ice cream one at a time. and means for intermittently rotating .s...id rack u traction of a. revolution.

3. i l mochiuo for coating ice cream comprising 1:. reel; provided with a plurality of book membe means for imparting alter natelv rotzrtirc and recipr cal movements to said r u mechanism for u'oducingg; bars of ice cream conjointly with the rcciprocal movement ot said rack, a lriclrcr bar impinging said hook members in rotation and when in lowermost position, :i tank adapted to imn'iorse in rotation the material suspended upon said hooks. and guide members "tor said hooks adapted to tilt the coated ma.- tcrial suspended thereon to facilitate tl1ttll1- age of uncongealed coating material and for removal.

4. ll confection coating machine compris ing a rotating raclc hooked members suspended thereirom. guide means adapted to tilt said hooks to different angles during the rotation of said rack. said guide means including a 'frame pivoted upon said rack and means for pircventin rotative movement ot said frame. and a, tan for coating imiteriul in juxtapi sition to so id inch.

5. in an ice cream (routing machine. :1 tault for coating material, a. racl; provided with hook members, and it pusher bar impinging said hook members. said rack and pusher her being actuated by a single drivin memher, and said hooks being adapted to be immersed in said tank one at a time.

{3. An ice cream coating and dip nng nutchine comprising a, frame, a prime mover, a. driven shat't upon said frame. a. rack slidably and rotatably mounted upon said frame. means for intcrn'littently raising and lowering said rack, a gear and pinion inter mediate said rack and said shaftfor imparting to said 'aclr a fractionl revolution when in raised position, a conveyor for ice criam, a reciprocating knii'e adapted to slice ice cream upon said conveyor, hook members Ion loo

ilo

upon said rack to impinge the slices of ice cream, a kicker bar for advancing said hook members toward and into such slices of ice cream, a tank for coating material to receive slices of ice cream upon said hooks, a guide member for tilting said hooks, and a second guide member for swinging said hooks outwardly from said rack.

7 An ice cream cutting and dipping machine as described in claim 6, and in which means are provided upon said shaft for rotating said rack.

8. An ice cream cutting and dipping machine as described in claim 6, and in which means are provided whereby said knife and said rack are raised and lowered conjointly.

9. An ice cream cutting and dipping machine as described in claim 6, and in which means are provided to reciprocate said guide members with said rack.

10. An ice cream cutting and dipping machine as described in claim 6, and in which said guide members are provided with a frame support having an auxiliary guide member whereby to prevent rotation with said rack.

11. An ice cream cutting and dipping machine as described in claim 6, having a single cam member for actuating said kicker bar and said knife.

12. An ice cream cutting and dipping machine as described in claim 6, having means whereby said rack is rotated and said ice cream conveyer is advanced concurrently.

13. An ice cream cutting and dipping machine as described in claim 6, having means whereby to twice reciprocate each bar of ice cream upwardly and downwardly before immersion in said tank.

adapted to be immersed in said rack one at a time, and means for tilting said hooks at right angles to the direction of their swinging movement.

17. A dipping machine comprising a tank for coating material, a moving rack, a hook member, and an intermediate member for mounting said hook member and having means for modifying the angular position of said hook member with respect to said rack.

18. A dipping machine comprising a tank for coating material, a rack, a holding member comprising a rod and prongs and adapted to be immersed in said tank, a carrier for said holding member upon said rack and having means for securing said holding member in swingable position, said carrier member having an extension portion, and an adjusting means in said extension portion and engaging said rack whereby to modify the angular relation of said holding member and said rack.

HERBERT H. WEAVER. EMERSON A. BOLEN. 

